Student News

Beth Dawkins selected for UNICEF internship in Pretoria, South Africa

April 4, 2007

Beth Dawkins, a second-year doctoral student in Early Childhood, Families and Literacy, has been selected to be an intern this summer with UNICEF in Pretoria, South Africa.

During the three-month internship, she will do policy work, reviewing the early childhood curriculum in South Africa and making recommendations for improvements. In addition, she will provide training to early childhood teachers and work on a national publication reporting on South Africa’s school readiness program.

She has received three scholarships totaling more than $6,000 to support the internship. From the UNC-Chapel Hill Center for Global Initiatives, she received a C.V. Starr International Scholarship and an Internship Award. She also received a Graduate Student Opportunity Fund award from the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School.

Dawkins has three years of experience as a pre-kindergarten teacher. She taught in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School district for two years and in Guadalajara, Mexico, for a year, using the Reggio-Emilio curriculum.

Her international experience includes a summer internship in Albania with the International Orthodox Christian Charities through the Coca-Cola World Citizenship Program. During this internship, she composed a book titled Good Afternoon, Miredita for the children of Albania. It has been published in both English and Albanian.

Dawkins’ dissertation research will focus on children’s literature. She hopes to identify what types of literature need to be offered to children in order to get them more engaged in reading.

After completing her doctoral degree, Dawkins wants to work with an international nonprofit organization that seeks to improve education for all children and their families. Her goal is to be an advocate for children and families worldwide.

Dawkins received her Bachelor of Arts degree from UNC-Charlotte in 2002 in early childhood education. She earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Florida in 2004.